The Herd (horses)

A lot of people take up Icelandic horses because they think they are “safe” horses. Not necessarily the case.They are flight animals first and foremost, the same as any other horse. They are, however, shorter, only 13 to 14 hands, which means closer to the ground. And when you sit on a big horse, an Appaloosa or Quarter Horse say, and look down, it’s an awfully long fall to that hypothetical rock your shoulder will hit. On an Icelandic, you can reassure yourself that if you fall, it’s not that far. It’s like the difference between falling off a stool and falling off a ladder. You can tell yourself that, anyway.